Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

Christ the King: Reign of Hope & Action

Know Before You Go

Join Father Brendan Curran, OP, Dominican Promoter for Justice and Peace, for "Know Before You Go" on the Solemnity of Christ the King. This powerful reflection marks the end of the liturgical year with a message of profound hope, examining Jesus' kingship not through earthly power but through his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Father Curran delves into the Gospel of Luke and the exchange with the Good Thief, challenging us to set our sights on God's eternal reign and become co-workers in building His kingdom amidst today's global struggles.

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**Chapters:**
0:00 Welcome & Introduction (Fr. Brendan Curran, Solemnity of Christ the King)
0:00:19 Conclusion of the Liturgical Year: A Message of Hope
0:00:43 Our Christian Journey: Setting Our Sights on God's Future
0:01:13 The Gospel of Luke: Christ's Passion and the Crucifixion
0:01:59 The Two Thieves: Rejection vs. Repentance
0:02:25 The Good Thief's Plea: "Remember Me When You Come Into Your Reign"
0:02:54 Understanding the Reign of God: Not Earthly Power, But Eternal Hope
0:03:33 Jesus' Mission: An Eternal Home, Not a Revolution
0:04:14 Our Baptismal Call: Ambassadors and Co-workers in God's Reign
0:04:38 "Put Away the Sword": God's Plan Beyond Human Power
0:05:14 Biblical Roots: First Reading (Samuel), Second Reading (Colossians)
0:06:53 The Empty Tomb: A New Beginning and Horizon of Hope
00:07:54 Our Call to Action: Stewards and Messengers Amidst Crisis
0:09:00 Building God's Reign Today: Immigration, War, Economy

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#ChristTheKing #SolemnityOfChristTheKing #FatherBrendanCurran #KnowBeforeYouGo #DominicanOrder #CatholicFaith #JusticeAndPeace #GospelOfLuke #LiturgicalYear #KingdomOfGod #ChristianHope #FaithIntoAction #GoodThief #CatholicReflection

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Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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  •

    33rd Sunday: Be a Witness, not a Gossip

    For the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This week's readings are packed with challenging messages: from Malachi's "blazing oven" and "Sun of Justice," to Paul's warning against "busybodies" in Thessalonians, and Luke's Gospel on the destruction of the temple, signs of the end times, and the promise of perseverance through persecution.
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    28th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Truth That Transforms

    Reflecting on Naaman’s cleansing and Jesus’ healing of the ten lepers, this homily contrasts merely seeing facts with embracing the truth behind them—the latter can be transformative. That is why one grateful leper was saved—not just healed of his disease. In the same way, in the second reading Paul’s call to hold fast to truth leads to life, and turning away from truth leads nowhere.
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    27th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Faith, Justice, but Spare the Outrage

    Father Jim Marchionda, OP previews the readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time for this Know Before You Go video, focusing on Habakkuk's plea for justice, Jesus's teaching on faith from Luke, and St. Paul's encouragement to Timothy. He connects these readings to contemporary issues, urging listeners to act on their faith, however small, and to avoid contributing to the negativity and outrage in the world. He calls on viewers to take up the challenge to not contribute to the outrage with the strength that comes from God.
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    The Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Finding True Power in Sacrifice

    Explore the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with Father Scott Steinkerchner! Discover the history behind this important day, tracing it back to St. Helena and the discovery of the True Cross relics. Learn about the significance of the cross, not as an object of miraculous power, but as a symbol of Jesus's ultimate sacrifice and the path to eternal life. Understand the connection between the serpent in the desert, Nicodemus, and the call to pour ourselves out in service to others.
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    Meals, from Fast Food to Eucharist | 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    In this Know Before You Go video, Fr. Charlie Bouchard explores the deeper meaning of meals in scripture, moving beyond simple etiquette to understand sacramental dining. This Sunday reflection on the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time examines three types of meals: functional, social, and sacramental - focusing on how Jesus's four meals with the Pharisees in Luke's Gospel reveal the transformative power of humble encounter. Learn why humility, not humiliation, is essential for authentic spiritual transformation and how every Eucharist calls us to "come as you are" while leaving pretense behind.
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    21st Sunday in Ordinary Time | The Narrow Gate - Immigration, Ukraine & Social Justice

    Connecting Luke's Gospel about the "narrow gate" to modern immigration issues, the Ukraine war, and Christian social justice. Speaking from Chicago's Martin dePorres Community Chapel, Fr. Curran challenges Catholics to see refugees and immigrants as God's messengers, drawing parallels between Isaiah's "fugitives" and today's displaced peoples. This Catholic sermon addresses real-world applications of Gospel teachings on dignity, inclusion, and Christian responsibility in times of crisis.
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    The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    The video powerfully connects ancient biblical themes of prophetic courage with contemporary challenges. The informal garage setting and family context make the message very relatable while addressing serious themes about standing up for justice, trusting God when facing consequences, and the call for all Christians to be prophetic voices in today's world. Karen's story provides a concrete example of what prophetic action looks like in professional healthcare settings.
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    The Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP as he breaks open the readings for the Know Before You Go video for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Some of the themes explored are: Faith over sight, Preparedness for God's presence, Responsibility that comes with blessing, Daily discipleship, Biblical study for 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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    The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Your Better Self

    Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In his Letter to the Colossians, Paul reminds us that as Christians, we have all put on a new self, which brings with it a new and more exalted identity. We need to live up to this new identity, lest we be hypocrites... or, as Qoheleth reminds us in the first reading, lest it be "vanity of vanities."
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    The Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Forgive One Another

    Join Fr. Brendan Curran, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Seventeenth Sunday of Ordinary Time. In the first reading (Genesis 18:20-32), Moses and God go to Sodom, where people have been gossiping about how bad they are. Moses gets God to admit that he is in the end forgiving, and would forgive Sodom for the smallest reason. Are we quick to condemn groups of people (think immigrants, muslims) because we have heard rumors about them?
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    The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading, Abraham unknowingly offers hospitality to angels. In the Gospel, Jesus' friend Mary sits at his feet listening to his teaching, leaving her sister Martha to do the work of hospitality. Fr. Charlie uses this scene to break open the Christian understanding of the relationship between contemplation and action, showing how be all need to do both and to let each one inform the other. He also puts forth that contemplation is like offering hospitality to God within your own heart.
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    The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.
    In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.
    For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?
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    The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Join Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading, we have a lovely image of God as our Mother. We know that God transcends our human male/female divides, but we don't often use these feminine images of God, so they are to be treasured.

    In the Gospel we have Jesus sending out the 72 ahead of him to prepare the way. They are to take nothing for the journey, and are to preach a simple message of peace and to heal those who are willing to accept it. Can we be simply people of peace instead of people who argue for our point of view? Can we measure success by finding signs of the Kingdom of Heaven in our world and bringing it peace rather than using other "worldly" measures?
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    The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

    In this Know Before You Go video, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP reflects on the readings for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, exploring Peter and Paul's contrasting personalities and leadership styles through different readings from the vigil and daytime Masses. Their lives and ministries reveal the diversity of ways God calls leaders, highlighting that faithfulness—not uniformity—is what unites the Church.
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    The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ

    Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in the Know Before You Go video for the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. Surprisingly, we get Jesus' words instituting the Eucharist not in the Gospel, but from the second readings, Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians. The Gospel challenges us with a feeding miracle of Jesus from Luke in which Jesus challenges the twelve to feed the crowds themselves. Fr. Jim then relates this with similar calls from Pope Francis and Pope Leo for us all to do something to care for refugees and migrants.
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    The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

    Join Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP in the Know Before You Go video for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. As Christians, we believe in the One God, who created heaven and earth, and also that the One God exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Here we explore what it means to believe in a God that fundamentally three in one, a community of love whose unity preserves the diversity of each.
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    Pentecost

    Join Fr. Charlie Bouchard O.P. of the Dominican Friars (Province of St. Albert the Great) for a powerful homily on the Feast of Pentecost where we dive deep into the coming of the Holy Spirit, the "Forgotten Person of the Trinity" if you're seeking a meaningful Pentecost reflection, tools to discern your spiritual gifts, or a deeper encounter with the Holy Spirit, this Catholic homily offers clarity, encouragement, and spiritual depth.
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